The tiny hand, barely grasping air, belonged to Poppy Hope Lomas. She arrived into the world on October 26, 2022, at University College Hospital, but her life was tragically cut short just a week later, leaving a family shattered and questions echoing through the halls of Barnet Coroner’s Court.
During labor, a critical warning flared – Poppy’s heart rate plummeted. Yet, the urgency wasn’t recognized, the alarm bells muted. Precious minutes ticked by, escalating into a devastating delay. An ambulance, a lifeline desperately needed, wasn’t requested for a full ninety minutes after it should have been.
Gemma, Poppy’s mother, remembers a chilling scene. Her newborn, alarmingly purple, her small head lolling back with a frightening lack of strength. “I remember saying, ‘There’s something wrong,’” she recounted, her voice heavy with grief. The response she received – a dismissive assurance that everything was “fine” – would forever haunt her.
Midwife Sasha Field later conceded the ambulance should have been summoned far sooner, a stark admission of a critical misstep. Senior Coroner Andrew Walker characterized this delay as a “serious failure,” a phrase that underscores the gravity of the situation and the lost opportunity to intervene.
The tragedy was compounded by a previous decision regarding Gemma’s care. She had undergone a C-section for the birth of her older daughter, Willow, in 2018. Despite this, she was actively encouraged by the head midwife, Alice Boardman, to attempt a home birth for Poppy.
Established guidelines from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists clearly state that, given Gemma’s history, Poppy should have been delivered in a hospital setting – a “suitably staffed and equipped delivery suite” prepared for a potential emergency C-section. This crucial precaution was tragically overlooked.
Gemma was never informed that her birth was considered high risk. “I would never have made a decision to harm my baby or myself,” she stated, her voice laced with anguish. The lack of transparent communication robbed her of the ability to make a fully informed choice about her and her daughter’s care.
The coroner issued four recommendations to the Department of Health, including a requirement for parents to sign a consent form explicitly outlining the risks associated with declining medical advice. This aims to ensure future mothers are fully aware of the potential consequences of their decisions.
Gemma’s hope, amidst unimaginable sorrow, is that Poppy’s story will serve as a catalyst for change. “Our hope is that by hearing Poppy’s story lessons will be learned and changes will be made so that no other family has to endure the pain that we will carry for the rest of our lives,” she pleaded.
Poppy Hope Lomas, a life extinguished too soon, remains etched in her parents’ hearts. “Poppy was our daughter, she was loved beyond words, and she will never be forgotten,” Gemma said, a testament to the enduring power of a mother’s love and the devastating loss of a child.
